Double-barrelled Racial Classification irrelevant for Singapore
SFD Media Release
31 December 2010
Double-barrelled Racial Classification irrelevant for Singapore
We refer to the Singapore Government's double barreled racial classification that will be implemented from tomorrow.
This new racial classification will have no impact on current racially based policies surrounding mother tongue education, self-help groups, public housing and general elections (GRC minority candidate).
The changing racial demographics and rise in inter-ethnic marriages clearly point to the need to remove “race” classification altogether and move to a Singaporean Singapore where policy making is not race based.
Instead, the Singapore Government is moving backwards by introducing additional and complicated double-barrelled classifications that serve no policy or national unity purposes.
The double-barrelled racial classification instead stand to confuse parents and individuals and complicate the implementation of racially based public policies currently in operation in an increasingly multiracial Singapore.
The complexity of modern Singapore requires that compulsory racial classification be eliminated.
However, SFD is open to making race classifications optional for parents and individuals who want to indicate their ethnic heritage in official documents but this should have no bearing on public policy.
Singapore’s existing racial classifications is a relic of the past. Racial considerations should be done away with in all aspects of public policy in particular those policies highlighted above that currently have a racial component to their implementation.
We like to take the opportunity to draw attention to the UN Special Rapporteur on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerances, Mr Githu Muigai's recommendation to remove race from national identity documents made during his press conference on 28 April 2010 in Singapore.
Singaporeans For Democracy would like to highlight that the practice of race identification is outdated in today's globalised world and only serves to further highlight our differences, instead of our commonality.
Dr. James Gomez
Executive Director
Singaporeans For Democracy
